BH. Tevet
13, 5779 / Dec 21, 2018
ב“ה
Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District Candle-Lighting: 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org 4:07 Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel Rubin & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 5:13 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
HANDS-ON HAND SWITCH In learning about Jacob switching his hands for the blessing of his grandchildren Menashe & Efraim in this week’s Torah Parsha of Vayechi, Nursery students got to choose blue or yellow paint which they used to hand-paint imprint a crossed-over switched hands (see the above left pictures) atop the two circle heads (see picture on above right) labeled Menashe and Efraim. Not only is this handson learning but they got their fingers wet, too! One of Rabbi Rubin’s favorite Lubavitcher Rebbe teachings speaks to the meaning of this switch based on their names as it relates to 2 ways &approaches of exile survival vs. thrival.
This MC Newsletter is dedicated in honor of
Rabbi Yossi’s Birthday as he turns 40 on 18th of Tevet.
THE BACH’S SPECIALITY Our representative Assemblywoman Pat Fahy’s recent legislative newsletter has a feature on the #Library36er campaign to visit all (or as many as you can) 36 libraries in the Upper Hudson Library System (UHLS) and for the Bach Library it says that it was the first in this area to offer Sunday hours to accommodate the local Jewish Sabbath-observant community.
KELIM MIKVAH HOURS Bnos Israel Mikvah would like to remind all that during the winter months the Kelim Mikvah should not be used after 4pm.
CHUMASH BULLETIN BOARD 2nd graders are especially proud of the bulletin board they put up in their classroom together with Morah Devorah Leah. It depicts what they have been learning about the story of the Tree of Knowledge in Gan Eden in their 3rd chapter of Chumash in Parsha Breishis.
ZOETROPES IN STEAM CLASS These 3rd graders enjoyed learning about and using a Zoetrope with Rabbi Yossi in STEAM class this week. It’s one of the early devices leading up to motion pictures and later to today’s computer animated productions.
OPENING WORD OF PARSHA “Vayechi” is alive with living! L’Chaim to all!
THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT 5/6 history learned about the agreement of governance that the Pilgrims made for their new fledgling ANEMOMETER IN FIRST GRADE community in America. Mrs. Maher worked Mrs. Mattice and the first graders made their with them to develop the same for themselves own basic anemometer device using materials in their own classroom: with rules and their from their classroom: a fan, cups, a ruler, tape, consequences and expectations & protections. washers, etc to learn about measuring wind Making history personally relevant & practical! speed—something weathermen do all the time!
TRAFFIC LIGHT TALMUD Rabbi Rubin’s 8th grade Talmudic exploration class jumped into the Daf Yomi study cycle of tractate Chullin (Kosher law) this week to find out more about the Talmud on the status of chicken in the laws of meat and dairy. One way they looked at the Talmudic argument was using a traffic light metaphor: How do people view a yellow light? It depends: Some speed up as a green, others slow down as if it were a red. Obviously the Halacha sees chicken as meat, and that’s how it is universally observed, but they were exploring it using the original Talmudic texts.
BUILDING CODE IN TALMUD 6th grade Gemorah class ended up talking about building codes and basic housing Mrs. Mattice’s 1st & 2nd graders made these standards after learning a dye quilts (using a STEAM scientific process of Braysah about ten house laws transferring food that don’t apply if the house is color die from one less than 4x4 Amos area. cup to another) after reading “The DEATH BE NOT PROUD Keeping Quilt” by 11th graders are now reading Patricia Pollaco. this stark, powerful, deeply They made enough personal 1949 memoir by color patches to John Gunther about life and make small square death and his own son’s quilts to bring home with accompanying struggle with cancer and his handwritten letters to their parents about it, succumbing to it at age 17. and also to make the larger group quilt that is hanging in the lunchroom outside their FOURTH DIVIDED BY DIVISION classroom. The patterns are SO beautiful! Mrs. Maher’s 4th graders are divided by how difficult they find division in math class. Some see it as easier, others as more difficult, but all must work at it just the same!
THE DYE QUILT BY 1ST & 2ND
HELP AND SUPPORT IN PSALMS Morah Raizy’s High School Tehillim class with ICE-PAINTING AT MISHMAR commentary is now learning chapter 20 which Girls Mishmar this month (once-a-month after many people say in time of need. The 3rd school for girls in grades 2+ run by the High verse speaks of both help and support. How School Girls) did ice-painting (yes, painting are help and support different? Here’s a rich with colored ice cubes on popsicle sticks!) for a psychological insight. Help is a practical winter-time theme and it was on a Jerusalem way of helping someone in need, while skyline support can be understood in more of silhouette an emotional or mental sense. Both help! for the 10th of NORTH AFRICAN JEWS TODAY Tevet Rabbi Kelman’s tour of Jewish communities (siege of and customs took our HS students to North Jerusalem) Africa this week, to places like Morocco where fast day most Jews emigrated to Israel or France, but this week. there are those who remain there, some of The chair whom are actually very wealthy. There’s also game was still a Jewish community in Djerba, Tunisia, fun, too! where Jews have lived for 2,500 years!
PHAROAH IS BACK Actually, the famous Pharaohs of the Passover story don’t show up until next week’s Parsha Shmot but the Pharaoh of Joseph’s time has been around for a few Parshiyot already, since his fat cows & skinny cows dream in Miketz. Kindergarten did these guided drawings to tie in the Hebrew letter Mem for Melech—King of—Mitzvrayim and the Parsha connection.
SAME PHAROAH OR NOT Speaking of Pharaoh: High School Chumash with Morah Leyee discussed this week the Rav vs. Shmuel argument quoted in Rashi whether Joseph’s Pharoah was or wasn’t the same as the Pharoah who decreed anti-Jewish laws and the slavery at the start of Parsha Shmot.
BETTER TO LEAD CHANUKAH These pictures are from a few weeks ago, when our High School students in the “Better To Lead” program (Better Together 2.0) did a Chanukah project with seniors. Speaking of Better Together, it’s time for middle school students to work on essay ideas for this annual project at school: share an meaningful memory with seniors, lessons learned from their life wisdom and experiences, or reasons to respect old age, and more.
MORE THAN JUST PRACTICAL HS Halacha class learned all types of Halacha about Shabbos preparations, which are more than just practical tips to be ready but are also actually Jewish law Halacha: some are cooking related, others are about personal hygiene…
REBAR IN CONCRETE A little physics analogy ended up in Parsha class. Metal’s strength is with tension, while concrete’s strength is with compression. Putting metal rods (rebar = reinforced bar) inside the concrete utilizes both their strengths for a much stronger concrete. That’s the message of doubling Chazak (from both the Torah reader and the congregation, each from their own strength and perspective) to end up with the results of a joint V’NisChazek (we are all stronger because of the mutual Chazak encouragement).
CAKE DECORATING Mrs. Chani Simon came in to do a fancy cakedecorating workshop with the High School girls, they worked in teams coloring, kneading and smoothing fondant, making edible cake flowers and learned about leveling the cakes, and applying a crumb frosting which enables the fondant to go on smoothly and adhere better to the cake. The four cakes pictured are NOW A NEW 3D PEN DEVICE what the teams ended up with—and the Girls 6th grade boys are very excited about the Mishmar got to enjoy them! STEAM Room Makerspace’s new 3D pen! You literally can hand-draw a sculpture! They SCIENCE Q&A GAME described the learning-curve, as you need to Mrs. Maher’s class played a card game for their calibrate the precise level of heat, the speed of science unit review. Each card had a question the flow and control of the pen to get exactly and answer (but the two weren’t connected). what you want. They’re not there quite yet but When one person read a question, another very eager to learn by practice! person who had the answer on his/her card read it and got to ask the next question. MORE MAKERSPACE UPDATES
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD 9/10 grade are now reading “To Kill a Mockingbird”. It happened during the great Depression in Alabama and includes many racial issues. The book by Harper Lee is historical fiction based on what happened during the Scottsboro trial which had a big impact on views on race. They are watching a documentary now on those trials.
CHUMASH+PARSHA MEET-UP It’s always neat when a Chumash class ends up learning the Torah portion of the week. This week it’s 5/6 grade Chumash who are learning Vayechi at the very same time that it is the Parsha of this week.
Morah Devorah’s Leah’s students learned about “fire and smoke” in Chumash LechLecha, and Rabbi Mathless showed them an experiment (mentioned in Chassidic texts) how a plume of smoke can reignite an extinguished candle from a nearby lit candle without candles touching.
The boys helped Rabbi Shmuly put up a small greenhouse near the outdoor classroom, put up solar panels on the shed combined with an inverter and battery, and now peg walls inside the shed to hang hooks for tools and stuff. A projector was installed in the makerspace and giant screen put into the lunchroom. New equipment and devices are being ordered all the time. Do you have ideas of hands-on educational learning materials that we can use? We’re interested in everything from robotics to woodworking, science experiments to marble runs and other fun games & activities.
5/6 GIRLS MISHNA PIZZA SIYUM LEGAL VS. MORAL OBLIGATION Rabbi Shmuly’s class had a delicious pizza Siyum and they learned and discussed the Mishna and Gemorah as they waited for the pizza to bake. 4th grade had a Sushi Siyum!
THERE’S SMOKE, THERE’S FIRE
8th grade Talmud learned the difference between legal and moral obligations and how that difference explains the different results of two very similar Talmudic cases in BM 37a.
CHAZAK BREISHIS FAIR PREP
MANY THANKS TO OUR C.N.D.
YAHADUS REVIEW
You’d have to be in school to know this but Max G. is our eager official Chief Newsletter Distributor inside school, who make sure or delegates that all families get it to take home!
The Breishis Fair/Carnival will be this coming Tuesday, Dec 25th, on the second of the half days next week. Classes have already begun to prep their booths and activities.
Chidon Test #2 will be this Wednesday for all classes in the Yahadus curriculum. The halfdays next week can be helpful to make time for extra review. Best of luck!
at Maimonides and in the Community 12/21: TODAY IS THE WINTER SOLSTICE It’s the shortest amount of daylight of the year. So why isn’t it the earliest sunset or candle-lighting of the year? Kids asked this. See answer online that has to do with latitude, earth’s tilt, solar noon etc.
12/21-25: JEWISH GIRLS WINTER RETREAT Contact Nechama Laber for more info on this annual overnight midwinter camp: 518-727-9581 / NechamaLaber@gmail.com. This year for the first time in their new home base in East Greenbush.
12/21-22: BAR-MITZVAH BOYS SHABBATON Our Bar-Mitzvah boys are spending this Shabbos together in Clifton Park for a Chazak Shabbaton—and a big birthday for Rabbi Yossi!
JERUSALEM—A CITY THAT IS JOINED TOGETHER The line comes from Psalm 122. Kindergarten students painted shapes that Morah Chani made for them which all came together as a beautiful Jerusalem mural on the entranceway to the Nursery and Kindergarten classrooms. They did this on the 10th of Tevet, the fast-day this week that commemorates the siege around Jerusalem.
12/22: SHABBOS VAYECHI AND CHAZAK We conclude the entire Chumash Breishis with Chazak! Kiddush at Shomray Torah (Shteeble) this week is sponsored by the Michoel and Leah Caras and family in honor of their newborn daughter Chana.
12/28-1/1/2019: EXTENDED NEW YEARS WKND OFF No School Friday through Tuesday. Long New Years Weekend.
12/31: NOON YEAR EVE PARTY AT COLONIE CENTER
12/22: RABBI REISMAN NAVI BROADCAST
A daytime event for kids 10:30am to 12:00pm with balloon drop & fun!
Sat nights viewable at the CBAJ Media Center at 7:30pm.
12/31: BETHLEHEM CHABAD 1ST NIGHT KOSHER
12/24-27: HALF-DAYS AT MAIMONIDES SCHOOL Mon-Thurs: Half-Days Judaic Mornings only, dismissal 11:30am. Some of these half-days will feature hands-on or interactive educational activities. See box below on right, or see below in calendar of events. PARENTS: Look for report cards to be sent home this coming week.
6:30pm Bethlehem First Night Fireworks, Kosher Food Festival with Babka, Hot Cider, Knishes and more begins 7pm at Bethlehem Chabad.
1/1/2019: FIRST DAY HIKES AT AREA PARKS
12/25: CHUMASH BREISHIS PARSHA CARNIVAL
10am at Saratoga Spa State Park and at Peebles Island State Park in Cohoes. The First Day Hike in Grafton Lakes State Park starts at 1pm. Contact each place for further details.
will be on the Tuesday of the half-days. Classes will each make hands-on, fun, engaging activity booths about one of the Parshas in Chumash Breishis.
1/2/2019: SCHOOL RESUMES ON WED MORNING 1/2/2018: School resumes 8am. Back to full-day learning!
12/26: YAHADUS CURRICULIM CHIDON TEST II
1/12: PIZZA NIGHT III BY MAIMONIDES HIGH
Classes studying this curriculum will have their 2nd of 3 tests this coming Wednesday morning. The half-days are great for extra studying time leading up to this test. Make the most of your review time!
7pm-8:30pm. Save the date! Eat-in or take-out, stay tuned for updates…
1/25: FRIDAY OFF, NO SCHOOL
12/26-28: TRAINS AND TOYS AT MISCI MUSEUM Model trains are running at the MiSci Museum in Schenectady and they also have “Toys: The Inside Story” hands-on exhibit exploring the inner workings of some classic 20th century toys. See website or call for hours/admission etc.
12/27: RAMBAM YARTZEIT ACTIVITY DAY The Rambam (our school’s namesake) yartzeit is on the 20th of Tevet, this year on Friday (when we’re off from school for an extended New Years). So we’ll have a Rambam activity day on Thursday, the last of the half-days.
12/27: ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WHALES AT NYS-M Special program at NYS Museum 1pm-3:30pm in Metropolis Hall to learn about whales and the history of whaling with hands-on & interactive activities.
12/28: FABULOUS FIRE ENGINES AT NYS-MUSEUM No school this Friday (start of long New Years Weekend). NYS Museum has 10am-11:30am activities centered at their historic fire engine exhibit.
FYI. An extended weekend off at the end of January.
2/17: “JEWISH DATA” TALK AT GUILDERLAND Rabbi Laber will be presenting his extensive “Jewish Data” research database with tools and interesting examples of the many things that can be learned from gravestones and public records, 2pm at the Guilderland Public Library.
Please note these UPCOMING SCHOOL DATES 12/24-27: Mon-Thurs: Half-Days Judaic Mornings only, dismissal 11:30am. Some of these half-days will feature hands-on or interactive educational activities. 12/25: Parsha Breishis Carnival activity booths prepared & run by students. 12/26: Yahadus Curriculum Chidon Test #2 on Wednesday morning 12/27: Rambam Pre-Yartzeit Activity Day at School 12/28-1/1: No School Friday through Tuesday. Long New Years Weekend. 1/2/2018: School resumes 8am. Back to full-day learning!
MAIMONIDES SCHOOL & COMMUNITY (Nursery / Elementary / High School) 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 maimonidesschool@gmail.com Founded in 1980, Maimonides is chartered by the NYS Board of Regents and is a JF-NENY Beneficiary “A Beautiful Blend: Torah & Worldly Experience!”